Mixing apparatus



Y l H. A. WARFEL MIXING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 1e. 1921 3 sheets-sheet 1 4Il /7dl Sept. 23 1924. 1,509,276

H. A. WARFEL MIXINGV APPARATUS Fi}.ed Aug. 16 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 lll l (Mammut:-

mi@ 149/JF Sept. 23 1924. H. A. WARFEL MIXING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Aug. 16. 192] Patented Sept. 23, lQl.

' nowann A. weeral., or Yonirrown, INDIANA. i

i Murine APPARATUS.

Application filed. August 16, 1921. Serial No. 492,657.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD A. VARFEL, a citizen of theUnited States,residing at Yorktown, in the county of Delaware and `@tate of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mixing Apparatus,of which the following is a speciiication. i

This invention relates to apparatus for mixing food materials andbeverages on the order of melted milk and the like.

Particular objects of the invention are to provide practical andefficient mechanism for mixing either one or a number'of drinks or otherconcoctions, as may be required, and further, to make the apparatus inconvenient attractive form and quiet in operation.

The various novel features by which these objects are attained willbecome apparent from the following specilication which is to be read inconjunction with the drawings accompanying and forming part of the sameand which disclose the invention embodied in but one of its possiblecommercial forms. Figure l in the drawings referred to is a side view ofthe mixing apparatus with the base portion of the device shown insection to illustrate the driving gearing and switch operatingmechanism.

Figure 2 is a bottomplan view of the apparatus.

Figures 3 and 4 are broken enlarged sectional views showing one of themixers in the up-raised, inactive and lowered, operative positionsrespectively. Y

Figure 5 is a detached perspective view of one of the glass holders.

Figure 6 is a broken side elevation of the latch release. y Figure 7 isa broken plan view of the same.

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view of this mechanism as taken onsubstantially the plane of line 8--8 of Figure 6. f

Figure 9 is a broken sectional view of the stationary section of one ofthe columns and the switch operating mechanism associated therewith.` 1

Figures l() and l1 are horizontal sectional views of the switchoperating cam mechanism taken on substantially the plane of line 10-11of Figure 9.

In the machine illustrated, there are four mixers, any one or all ofwhich are operable at will from a single driving motor.

These mixers are shown in Figure l as mounted in a row on a suitablesupporting base l5 which is hollow to form a housing for the gearing andswitch mechanism, the motor 16 being supported on this base at one endof the row of mixers.

These mixers, as more clearly shown in Figures 3 and Ll consist in eachinstance of a tubular column 17 carried by a flanged bushing 18 having asquared hub 19 seated in a correspondingly shaped opening in the top ofthe base. said lixed column having an oversliding tubular extension 20carrying the mixing element 21 and a disconnectable part of the gearingfor `actuating the same.

The telescopic column section 2OA is shown as non-rotatablyguided on thefixed column section by having a part 22 slidingly fitting over anupstanding guide rod or post 23, which has a head 24 at its upper end tolimit the retractive upward movement of the movable column section.

The mixing element is shown as carried by a spindle 25 having ascrew-threaded connection at 26 with the vertical shaft section 27journaled in the head 28 of the movable column section and connected bybevel gearing 29 with one end of a horizontal shaft 30, whose oppositeend is connected by bevel gearing 3l with a vertical shaft section 32journaled in a bearing 33 carried by the sliding column section.

The sliding column section is thrust upward by a spring 34interposedbetween the shoulder provided by the bearing 33 at the top ofthe sliding column section and the shoulder provided by the bearing 35in the upper end of the fixed column section. In this latter bearingthere is journaled an upright shaft 36 of tubular construction toreceive the lower end of the upper shaft section 32 which may be pointedas indicated at 37 to facilitate its entrance into the end ofthe tubularshaft and which carries clutch disc 38 slidingly keyed thereon at 39 andadapted to be coupled with a corresponding clutch element 40 on theupper end of the tubular shaft. The clutched engagement of these twoshaft sections is illustrated in Figure 4, wherein it will be seen thatthe upper shaft section 32 telescopes into the lower tubular shaftsection 36 and that the sliding clutch disc 38 engages with the clutchmember 40 to afford a driving connectionV between these parts. Theclutch disc 39may be actedL on byf a spring which will yielding-ly,holdy it engaged with the driving element 40, the end of the key way at39 in the shaft forming a stop to limit the extent of sliding movementof the disc.

The drive shaft-s 36 in the illustration are provided with pulleys 41 attheir lower ends, within the hollow base, over which runs a driving belt42, said bolt also passing over tioilsintofposition tov be engaged andforced tact-springs. 58.

back by the. oversliding column sections, said cam members being affixedto the upper ends of upright. controlrods 51 within the columns andwhich carry at their lower ends arms52- inengagement with lugs 53 on thelongitudinally shiftable switch actuating rod 54.

This latter rod is` shown in Figure 2 as normally forced to the left bya spring 55 andv as having an arm or extension 56 carrying-a contact-57adapted to bridge the con- The switch thus provided isinterposed in themotor circuit and consequentlythe motor is` under the direct control ofeach and all of the mixingdevices.

Some means are preferably provided for retainingthe .mixing devices intheir 'lowered'operative positions lf have shown for this purpose, ahook ordog 59 pivotally supported at 60 in eachy of the lined columnsections and arranged` to project through an opening 61 into holdingengagement in the opening` 62in the slidingcoluinn section, as shown..in Figure 4. These holding dogs are shown Las thrust outwardly by sprin63 so that-they will :automatically snap into holding engagement withthe sliding column sections when the same are lowered to bring themixers into operation.

Toreleasethe hold-down latches, I have showneach mixer head as providedwith a handle164 having a stem 65 journaled in a bearing-66 at thesideof the head and carrying at yits lower end, an angularly extendingarm 67 arranged in` the depressed position of the head to .overlie thepoint of the latchingdog. K

The glasses or other containers are located and held in position beneaththe mixers by positioning devices .shown in the form of sprmg-,yokes 68having4 curved arms to rece1-ve, and.;part1ally embrace the glasses,said yokesbeing set in slotsgtfxcuty in the upper ends of the posts 70which having squared lower ends 7l seated in correspondingly shapedsockets in the@ top of the base and split as indicated at 72 to formspringv tongues frictionally engaging in such seats. This constructioncauses the glass holders to be firmly held in place and yet enablestheir ready removal for cleaning or other purposes. This detachabilityis particularly important where it may be desired to operate on materialwhich may be `withina bowl. or relatively large container.

In the ordinary yuse; of the invention, the glass or glasses containingthe ingredients are slipped into place in the glass holders and themixer heads are depressed to lower the mixing elements down intol thematerial in- 'the glasses. As the first mixer is depressed and the uppercolumn sectionthereof rides over-the cam 49the switchwill be thrown andthe motor started' in operation.

In the continued loweringrmovement and,

after the mixingA elementhas been lowered fully into the glass, theupper shaft section will enter the lower tubular shaft section and thetwo will become clutched together, resulting in the driving of themixing element. It will be evidentl that the mixing` Hence the mixingelement is in. an idle on non-rotating condition when it is lifted ont,`

of the glass. f y.

This prevents scattering the material as the miners are withdrawn. Tfonlyonemixing device is in operation, the vswitch restoring spring 55will operateto cut out the motor as soon as the movable section of thecelumn slides free of the, switch operating cam 49, but the motor willnot be cut out of circuit untiil all the mixers have been withdrawn. i

lVhat l claim. is:

l. ln apparatus of the character disclosed. a. plurality of tubularcolumns, each of said columns havingainovable telescopic section,

mixing elements andV vdriving connectionstherefor carried withinsaid-movable column sections, drh/*ing means within the relatively.A

tions in the movable column vsections andi-,l

When these latches. are re- 'common operating means for said drivingmeans in the several columns. y 2. In apparatus ofthe characterdisclosed,

a plurality of tubular columns, each of said columns having a movabletelescopic section, mixing elements carried by said movable columnsections, driving Connections for the mixing elements housed within themovable column sections, driving means wit-hin the relatively fixedsections of the columns engageable with and disengageable from thedriving connectionsin the movable column sections, common operatingmeans for said driving means in the several columns and independentcontrollers for said driving means operable by the movable sections ofthe several columns.

3. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a plurality of columnshaving vertically movable sections, stirring elements carried by saidvertically movable sections, driving'V `means therefor housed-within andconnectable and disconnectable in the vertical movements of said movablesections, a motor for operating said driving means and controllingmechanism for said motor independently operable by each of the movablecolumn sections. l .i

4. ln apparatus of the character disclosed, a supporting base, a row ofmixer columns mounted on said base, a motor supported on the base, driveshafts in the mixer columns, a common `drive shaft extending from themotor to said drive shafts loca-ted at the under side ot'- the base,said columns having extensible sections, mixingelements carried by saidextensible sections, driving connections for the mixing elements housedwithin the extensible sections and detachable couplings between saiddriving connections and the drive shafts aforesaid.

5. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a supporting base, a row ofmixer columns mounted on said base, a motor supported on the base, driveshafts in the mixer columns,

gearing from the motor to said drive shafts located at the under side ofthe base, said columns having extensible sections, mixing elements anddriving connections therefor carried by said extensible sections,detachable couplingsA between said driving connections and the 'driveshafts aforesaid, and means for releasably securing the extensiblecolumn sections with the driving connections operably coupled with thedrive shafts.

6. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a. supporting base, a row ofmixer columns mounted on said base, a motor supported on the base, driveshafts in the mixer columns, gearing from the motor to said drive shaftslocated at the under side of the base, said columns having extensiblesections, mixing elements and driving connections therefor carried bysaid extensible sections, detachable couplings between said drivingconnections and the drive shafts aforesaid and control mechanism for themotor operable by the extensible column sections.

i'. ln apparatus of the character disclosed, a hollow base, a pluralityof independently operable mixing devices mounted on said base, a motormounted on the base, a common drive shaft within the hollow buse,extending from the motor and intergeared to the several mixing devicesand a controlling switch for the motor also mounted in said hollow base.

8. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a hollow base, a pluralityof independently operable mixing devices mounted on said base, a motormounted on the base, u common drive shaft within the hollow base extend'j from the motor and intergeared to the sei eral mixing devices, acontrolling ch tor the motor also mounted in said hollow has".l andoperating meal-iis for said controlling switch under control olf theindividual mixing devices.

9. 1n an apparatus of the character disclosed, a hollow base, aplurality of independently operable mixing devices mountec on said baseand extending downwardly toward said base, a motor mounted on the base,a common drive means within the hollow base extending from the motor andconnected to the several mixing devices.

10.1n apparatus of the character disclosed, a tubular column comprisingrelatively fixed and telescopic sections.` discon- `nectable drivegearing housed within said relatively tixed and movable column sections,

a mixing device carried by the movable col-' umn section and operable bythe gearing carried thereby and means for releasably securing the columnsections with the disconnectable gearing in coupled relation.

ll. ln apparatus of the character disclosed, a tubular column comprisingrelatively fixed and telescopic sections, disconnectable drive gearinghoused within said relatively fixed and movable column sections, amixing device carried by the inevable column section and operable by thegearing carried thereby, means for releasably securing the columnsections with the disconnectable gearing in coupled relation andcomprising a holding latch on one of the column sect-ions arranged toengage a shoulder on the companion column section and means forreleasing said latch from its holding engagement with said shoulder.

l2. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tubular column comprisingrelatively lixed and telescopic sections, disconnectable drive gearingin said relatively fixed and movable column sections, a mixing devicecarried by the movable column section and operable by the gearingcarried thereby, means for releasably securing the column sections withthe disconnectable gearing in coupled relation and comprising a holdinglatch on one oi;

'the column sect-ions arranged to engage a shoulder on the companioncolumn section and means for releasing said latch from its holdingengagement with said shoulder and including a retracting linger carriedby said companion column section and arranged to overstand said latchwhen the column sections are in the hitched relation.

13. In 'apparatus of the character disclosed.,` telescopic columnsections, disconncctable gearing carried within said sections, a latchfor securing the sections in position with said gearing in coupledrelation, a spring for relatively shifting the telescopic sections touncouple said gearing, means tor releasing the latch and a mixingelement carried by one of the column sections and operably fonnectedwith the gearing carried thereby.

14. In apparatus of the character disn closed, a base, a tubular columnmounted thereon and comprising a fixed section and a sliding section,means for guiding the sliding section non-rotatably over the lixedsection, a latch in' the ixed section for releasably securing thesliding section in predetermined relation7 a spring Within the slidingsection for relatively separating said sections, a drive shaft journaledin the lixed section7 a driven shaft Within the sliding section,cooperating clutch elements on said drive and driven shafts and a mixingelement carried by the sliding sect-ion and connected with the drivenshaft.

l5. In appa at-us of the character disclosed, a, base, a tubular columnmounted thereon and comprising a fixed section and a sliding section7means for guiding the sliding section non-rotatably` over the fixed section, a latch in the fixed section for releasably securing the slidingsection in prede termined relation,` af spring' within the slidingsection forA- relatively separating' said sections7 a drive shaftjournaled 1n thefixed section, a driven shaft Within the sliding.section, cooperating' clutch sections on `said drive and: driven shafts;al

mixing element carried by the sliding section and connected-With" thedriven shaft, a cam element projecting through an'open ing in the fixedcolumn section into posit-ion to be engaged by the sliding columnsection, a switch operated by said cam element and a motor for the driveshaft under control'ct` said switch.V l

1G. In apparatus otk the character disclosed, a verticallymovable head,a stirring device carried by said head and gearing housed Within thehead for operating said stirring device, includingy a couplingreleasable and engageable ata point adjacent the uppermost'limit oftravel in the vertical movements of said head. y 17. In apparatus" ofthe character disclosed, a vertically movable h`ead, a 'stirring devicecarriedby said head and gearing` housed Within the heador operatingsaidstirring device',"including a coupling releasable and engageable at apoint adjacent the uppermost limit of travel, in 'the vertical movementsof saidhead, said coupling being engageable just after the head has beenlowered sufficiently to enter'the stirring-device in av glass or tumblerof predetermined

